Scarcely/hardly had I thought of having ice cream…. Each of these paired expressions makes sense as shown here, but not if their elements are mixed up. Hardly the bell had rung when Matthew started running out of his classroom. We had scarcely arrived at the cinema when the film started. "Hardly" is an adverb, and is most natural when placed before the verb. 2. In face, you can substitute 'scarcely' for 'hardly' in all of the above examples… If I change this to [2]. Interchange of the Degrees of Comparison Positive Comparative: Examples: A. I am as strong as him. Both are correct and are used under difference contexts. In this structure, we use the normal word order. 1. I had scarcely solved one problem when another popped up. I hardly recognized you with your new haircut. Hardly had I finished dinner when the phone rang.>> I had hardly finished dinner when the phone rang. When Matthew started running out of his classroom, the bell had hardly rung. Note : The above sentence contains two clauses. I had hardly … I could hardly speak any English when I was young. Scarcely had I reached the station when the train steamed out. My daughter can hardly remember Quebec City because she was very little when we lived there. Hardly. (No inversion.) Scarcely had the meeting begun when the protesters rushed to the platform. Hardly (adverb) Hardly means only just, almost not possible or almost not at all. [3]. I hardly can believe it. Hardly had I closed my eyes when the telephone rang. Therefore these two naturally go together: (b) 'Hardly had I arrived when it started to rain'. I guess the construction is correct. 2. C. Hardly had the meeting begun when the protesters rushed to the platform. (positive degree) He is not stronger than me. John's logic here is hardly unassailable, and the lass promptly puts him in his place by taking up with a married middle-aged bank manager. : Motivation hardly seems necessary for a World Cup final but for them there is an added incentive. You can also use hardly, scarcely and barely to say that one thing happens immediately after another: We had hardly/ scarcely/ barely sat … Hardly had the bell rung when Matthew started running out of his classroom. I hardly know her. It emphasizes the near interruption of your dinner. : Connor, resplendent in blue overcoat and black flat cap, hardly stood still. Examples: Hardly had I reached the station when the train left. I've got hardly any money left. (comparative degree) B. 2: We can use inversion instead of 'if' in conditionals with 'had' 'were' and 'should'. 'Hardly had [something happened]' is an expression of time, but not comparison, indicating the moment after the event. Hardly do I know about her.>> I hardly know her. As you can see, the examples above are very similar to the examples with 'hardly'. I could hardly hear what she was saying. Scarcely and hardly can come after the subject. 3. Your sentence is OK, and the word order is fine. ( interrogative style with past perfect form ) III After writing as mentioned above, the second sentence or second part of the sentence is to be written after writing ‘When’. www.use-in-a-sentence.com English words and Examples of Usage Example Sentences for "hardly" I hardly recognized you with your new haircutThey hardly ever go out; maybe once a month at most. This is quite formal: Normal conditional: If I had been there, this problem wouldn't have happened. We only use inversion when the adverb modifies the whole phrase and not when it modifies the noun: Hardly anyone passed the exam. Sacking the coach was scarcely the best decision to take. 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